quote · Legacy record
Methought I heard a reverend old man speak; Grey were his locks, his eyes were calmly bright, The rosiness of youth was on his cheek, And, as he spoke, a heaven of truth and light Open’d itself upon my inner sight; While, banish’d by his accents soft and meek, Dissolve itself in holy harmony. Then to the old man, doubtfully, I said, “Yet in the world these evils are not dead!” But, confidently, thus he gave reply— “As in my thoughts, so in the world they lie.”— And with these words he rais’d his drooping head.
Methought I heard a reverend old man speak; Grey were his locks, his eyes were calmly bright, The rosiness of youth was on his cheek, And, as he spoke, a heaven of truth and light Open’d itself upon my inner sight; While, banish’d by his accents soft and meek, Dissolve itself in holy harmony. Then to the old man, doubtfully, I said, “Yet in the world these evils are not dead!” But, confidently, thus he gave reply— “As in my thoughts, so in the world they lie.”— And with these words he rais’d his drooping head.
In print by 1888 AD · industrial
Recorded in a printed collection by this date; the original date of these words is still unknown.
Meaning not yet available
An individual explanation has not yet been added. We do not substitute a generic description for an interpretation of these particular words.
Begin with source-checked readings and explanations ↗Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- J. Gostick (identity unresolved)
Attribution: unknown - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- In print by 1888 AD · industrial
In print by 1888: recorded in A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888). Collection publication is an upper bound for this wording, not its earliest origin, composition date or the author's lifetime.
An author lifetime, approximate period or collection date is not necessarily the date when these words were first written or spoken. - Recorded source
- A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations (catalogued1888) (1888 AD)
Page 602 · printed citation: J. Gostick · subject: THOUGHT
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.